Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsaney’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Zalsaney’, characterized by its erect and strong flowering stems; vigorous growth habit; white-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ZALSANEY’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, commercially used as a cut flower Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Zalsaney’.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut flower Alstroemeria plants with desirable flower and plant qualities, attractive flower coloration and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Alstroemeria plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in June, 2005, of a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code number 1907-11, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code number 871069-2, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Alstroemeria plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in July, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria plant by rhizome divisions in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands since September, 2006, has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Zalsaney’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Zalsaney’ as a new and distinct Alstroemeria plant:

-   -   1. Erect and strong flowering stems.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. White-colored flowers.     -   4. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of the female parent selection primarily in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have white and light pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of the male parent selection primarily in flower bud color as flowers of plants of the male parent selection have yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Virginia’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,331. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed primarily from plants of ‘Virginia’ in flower color as plants of ‘Virginia’ had fewer and lighter-colored flower stripes than plants of the new Alstroemeria.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Alstroemeria plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alstroemeria plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of typical flower of ‘Zalsaney’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown during the late summer in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 15° C. and soil temperatures averaged 14° C. Plants were one year old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1966 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Zalsaney’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida             selection identified as code number 1907-11, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida             selection identified as code number 871069-2, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—In vitro rhizogenesis.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 40 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 60 days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy, thick; color, close to             155D.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.         -   Rhizomes.—Shape: Elongate; rounded. Length: About 10 cm to             30 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 10 mm. Texture: Smooth.             Color: Close to 155D. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright; freely branching, bushy             appearance; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 125 cm to 165 cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 25 cm. -   Flowering stem description:     -   -   Aspect.—Erect.         -   Length.—About 110 cm to 148 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 7 mm to 9 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1 cm to 11 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 146C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Appearance.—Leaves asymmetrical; sessile.         -   Length.—About 14.3 cm to 17.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.6 cm to 3.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire; slightly undulate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Developing and fully developed leaves, upper surface:             Close to 147A; venation, close to 141D. Developing and fully             developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation,             close to 137D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in             compound umbels; flowers face mostly outwardly; perianth             segments separate; freely flowering habit, about 11 to 30             flowers developing per flowering stem.         -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous during the             spring in The Netherlands; plants begin flowering about 80             to 90 days after planting.         -   Fragrance.—Not detected.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About four weeks; flowers not             persistent.         -   Flower longevity as a cut flower.—About 12 to 16 days.         -   Flower buds (showing color).—Length: About 5 cm to 5.5 cm.             Diameter: About 1.7 cm to 1.8 cm. Shape: Roughly ovoid.             Color: Close to 145C.         -   Umbel height.—About 14.5 cm to 20.5 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 16 cm to 20 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 7.5 cm by 8 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 7.5 cm to 8.5 cm.         -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each             whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Outer             perianth, lateral segments: Length: About 6.2 cm to 7.1 cm.             Width: About 3.2 cm to 3.7 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:             Embedded pointed. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; slightly             undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, when opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 155D. Color, when opening and fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 155D. Outer perianth, median             segment: Length: About 6.4 cm to 7.3 cm. Width: About 3.2 cm             to 3.7 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Embedded pointed. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, when opening             and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 155D. Color, when             opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 155D.             Inner perianth, lateral segments: Length: About 6.7 cm to             7.6 cm. Width: About 1.8 cm to 2.3 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate.             Apex: Wishbone-shaped. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire;             slightly undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color, when opening, upper surface: Close             to 155D slightly tinged with close to 4D; stripes, close to             183A. Color, when opening, lower surface: Close to 155D.             Color, fully opened, upper surface: Close to 155D; stripes,             close to 183A. Color, fully opened, lower surface: Close to             155D. Inner perianth, median segment: Length: About 5.7 cm             to 6.5 cm. Width: About 1.8 cm to 2.1 cm. Shape:             Oblanceolate. Apex: Wishbone-shaped. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Entire; slightly undulate. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, when opening, upper             surface:. Close to 155D slightly tinged with close to 4D;             stripes, close to 183A. Color, when opening, lower surface:             Close to 155D. Color, fully opened, upper surface: Close to             155D; stripes, close to 183A. Color, fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 155D.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 0.5 cm to 2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm             to 3 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: About 20° from vertical.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 147B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.             Anther shape: Elliptical. Anther length: About 8 mm to 9 mm.             Anther color: Close to 152C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen             color: Close to 152B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.             Style length: About 4.3 cm to 4.7 cm. Style color: Close to             155D. Stigma color: Close to 155D. Ovary color: Close to             146B.         -   Fruit/seed.—Fruit and seed development has not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Alstroemeria. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about −5° C. to about 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsaney’ as illustrated and described. 